Oven

ABSTRACT

An oven for cooking food includes a muffle ( 2 ), a groove ( 20 ) fashioned in a wall of the muffle ( 2 ), and a tab ( 4 ) which contributes to supporting an electric heating element ( 3 ) for cooking. In an operational configuration, the tab ( 4 ) is inserted into said groove ( 20 ), along which it is free to slide so as to compensate for any thermal expansions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cooking oven.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A cooking oven comprising a muffle inside which, in proximity to the ceiling, there is a grill heating element is well known. The heating element is connected to the walls of the muffle. In particular the muffle comprises a rear wall in which is a slot is fashioned and one end of the grill heating element is inserted into it. The end of the heating element is then fixed to the oven with screws.

Moreover, a front part of the heating element (closer to the oven door) rests upon a cross member, shaped like the letter “C”, the ends of which are inserted in specific protuberances fashioned in the side vertical walls of the muffle.

A drawback of this constructive solution is tied to the fact that, with the deformation of the materials that occurs while the heating element and oven are heating up, there is a risk of the cross member slipping out of the side protuberances and falling. Moreover, since the side protuberances are enamelled, there would also be the risk of the cross member deforming and damaging the enamel.

In an alternative constructive solution, a front part of the heating element could be secured to the walls of the muffle by means of plates and screws.

A drawback of this constructive solution is tied to the fact that, as a result of the deformations which accompany the heating up of the heating element and oven, the cross member could generate undesirable and dangerous mechanical tensions on the muffle and/or heating element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this context, the technical task at the basis of the present invention is to provide an oven that enables the drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an oven that is not damaged by the thermal expansions of the components thereof.

The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by an oven comprising the technical features disclosed in one or more of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the approximate and thus non-limiting description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an oven, as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a view from above of an oven according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a section according to the section plane A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an oven according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a detail of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 shows a detail of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the appended Figures, the reference number 1 denotes an oven for foods (for example for baking or in any case defrosting foods). The oven 1 could be, for example, an electric oven, but also a combined gas-electric oven or even a microwave oven. The oven 1 comprises a muffle 2, a groove 20 fashioned in a wall of the muffle 2, and a tab 4 that contributes to supporting an electric heating element 3 for cooking.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tab 4 projects in part towards the outside of the muffle 2. In particular, as can be seen in FIG. 4, in the operational configuration, one end of the tab 4 is outside the muffle 2. The muffle 2 is closed off at the front by a door, not illustrated in the appended Figures for the sake of simplicity.

In an operational configuration, the tab 4 is partly inserted into the groove 20, along which it is free to slide so as to compensate for any thermal expansions. In the operational configuration, the tab 4 is free to slide in the groove 4 only along a predetermined direction, the latter being a preferential direction of deformation of the electric heating element 3 as a consequence of heating up. Conveniently, this predetermined direction is perpendicular to a plane in which the door lies in the closed configuration.

Advantageously, the groove 20 is fashioned in an upper wall 21 of the muffle 2. The electric heating element 3 is a grill. It is mounted in proximity to the upper wall 21 of the muffle 2. Conveniently, the electric heating element 3 extends parallel to a plane (which is substantially horizontal). The distance of a plane in which the electric heating element 3 lies from the upper wall 21 is less than 5 centimetres. The groove 20 is delimited below by the upper wall 21 of the muffle. The upper wall 21 of the muffle comprises an enamelled surface facing the interior of the muffle 2, and a non-enamelled surface facing upward. In particular, the portion of the upper wall 21 intended to come into contact with the tab 4 is not enamelled. In this manner, the shifting of the tab 4 caused by thermal deformations will not ruin the enamel. Moreover, the portion of the upper wall 21 intended to come into contact with the tab 4 is not in view and it is thus not necessary for it be enamelled (and in any case even if it were enamelled, there would be no visible damage as it is not in view; furthermore, the possibility for the tab 4 to slide along the groove 20 ensures that no tensions will be generated such as to damage the oven 1).

The groove 20 is defined by a protuberance 200 that projects inside the muffle 2. The protuberance 200 has an opening 201 facing a front part 22 of the oven 1 (the front part 22 of the oven 1 is the one in which the door for accessing the inside of the muffle 2 is fashioned). Conveniently, the section of the tab 4 that is inserted in the groove 20 blocks off the opening 201 of the protuberance 200. In this manner, vapours bearing fat particles released during cooking cannot be deposited inside the groove 20.

Conveniently, the oven 1 comprises a cross member 30 supporting the electric heating element 3. The cross member 30 is constrained to the tab 4 and is underneath the electric heating element 3. The cross member 30 is preferably a rod (typically metal) that extends rectilinearly between two side walls 91, 92 of the muffle 2 (conveniently, the rod extends perpendicularly to the two side walls 91 92 of the muffle 2). The side walls 91, 92 of the muffle 2 extend vertically and connect a front area and a back area of the muffle 2.

Conveniently, the electric heating element 3 rests upon the cross member 30. Advantageously, the electric heating element 3 is hooked onto the cross member 30 by means of specific hooks. In this regard, the electric heating element 3 is shaped like a bar bent into a serpentine pattern. The hooks are positioned along said rod and connect the cross member 30 and the electric heating element 3. Conveniently, the tab 4 is non-removably connected (preferably welded) to the cross member 30.

Conveniently, the tab 4 is bent. In particular, the tab 4 comprises a first upper part 41, which in said operational configuration is intended to be inserted in said groove 20, a second part 42 joining it with said cross member 30 (in particular, the second part 42 is welded to the cross member 30), and a third part 43, which extends from top to bottom between the first upper part 41 and the second part 42. The third part 43 is therefore interposed between the first upper part 41 and the second part 42. Conveniently, in the operational configuration, the first upper part 41 extends horizontally. Analogously, the groove 20 also extends horizontally. As exemplified in the appended Figures, the third part 43 is instead vertical.

The tab 4 can be extracted from the groove 20 by sliding the same along the groove 20. Advantageously, the cross member 30 and/or the tab 4 are made of metallic material.

Let an imaginary vertical plane 5 be defined, situated at half the depth of the muffle 2. In this manner, the imaginary plane 5 will divide the muffle 2 into a first and second area 51, 52 (see FIG. 1). The first area 51 is closer to the oven door intended for introducing and removing the food. The groove 20 is fashioned in said first area 51 (i.e., it is in proximity to the front area of the oven 1). The groove 20 extends for more than 15 millimetres along a direction perpendicular to said oven door in the closed position. Analogously, the first upper part 41 of the tab 4 must have a length greater than 15 millimetres. In fact, it is important for the length of the first upper part 41 to be greater than the estimated expansion of the electric heating element 3 along a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the oven door lies in the closed position (this expansion is normally quantifiable as 7-8 millimetres). Otherwise, the tab 4, upon the heating of the electric heating element 3, would risk slipping out of the groove 20.

What was described earlier with reference to a tab 4 and a groove 20 can be repeated for a plurality of tabs that are engaged in corresponding grooves (unillustrated embodiment). Advantageously, the plurality of grooves supports a same cross member 30. If only one groove 20 is present, it is at a same distance from the side walls 91, 92 of the oven 1.

The present invention further relates to a method for connecting a grill heating element to an oven. The method comprises the steps of inserting at least a first portion 31 of said electric heating element 3 into a slot 93 fashioned in a rear wall 23 of the muffle 2 and inserting the tab 4 into the groove 20. Conveniently, the step of inserting the tab into the groove 20 follows the step of inserting the first portion 31 into the slot 93 fashioned in the rear wall 23 of the muffle 2. After the tab 4 has been inserted into the groove 20, the method further envisages fixing the first portion 31 to remaining parts of the oven 1 by means of a removable threaded connection.

The present invention has numerous advantages. An important advantage is tied to the fact that upon the oven 1 heating up, the tab 4 can translate along the groove 20 without generating tensions in the oven 1. A further important advantage is tied to the fact that the tab 4 rests upon a part of the oven 1 outside the muffle 2 and is thus not enamelled. Consequently, even in the event of the tab 4 sliding along the groove 20, one does not run the risk of damaging the delicate enameling inside the muffle 2.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept which characterizes it. Furthermore, all of the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practical terms, all of the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any whatsoever according to need. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An oven for food, comprising: a muffle; a groove fashioned in a wall of the muffle; and a tab which contributes to supporting an electric heating element for cooking, wherein the tab is inserted into the groove, along which the tab is free to slide so as to compensate for thermal expansions.
 2. The oven according to claim 1, wherein the groove is fashioned in an upper wall of the muffle, the electric heating element being a grill mounted in proximity to the upper wall of the muffle.
 3. The oven according to claim 1, wherein the groove is defined by a protuberance that projects inside the muffle and has an opening facing a front part of the oven.
 4. The oven according to claim 1, further comprising a cross member for supporting the electric heating element, the cross member being constrained to the tab and being underneath the electric heating element.
 5. The oven according to claim 4, wherein the tab comprises: a first upper part inserted in the groove; a second part joining the tab with the cross member; and a third part, which extends from top to bottom between the first upper part and the second part.
 6. The oven according to claim 1, wherein the tab can be extracted from the groove by sliding the tab along the groove.
 7. The oven according to claim 5, wherein the first upper part of the tab and the groove extend horizontally.
 8. The oven according to claim 1, wherein an imaginary vertical plane is defined, which is situated at half the depth of the muffle and divides the muffle into a first and a second area, the first area being closer to an oven door intended for introducing and removing food, and wherein the groove is fashioned in the first area.
 9. The oven according to claim 8, wherein the groove extends for more than 15 millimetres along a direction perpendicular to the oven door in the closed position.
 10. A method for connecting a grill heating element to an oven, comprising the steps of: inserting at least a first portion of the grill heating element into a slot fashioned in a rear wall of a muffle; inserting a tab into a groove; and after the tab has been inserted into the groove, fixing the first portion to remaining parts of the oven by means of a removable threaded connection.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the groove is fashioned in an upper wall of the muffle, the grill heating element mounted in proximity to the upper wall of the muffle.
 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the groove is defined by a protuberance that projects inside the muffle and has an opening facing a front part of the oven.
 13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising a cross member for supporting the grill heating element, the cross member being constrained to the tab and being underneath the grill heating element.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the tab comprises: a first upper part inserted in the groove; a second part joining the tab with the cross member; and a third part, which extends from top to bottom between the first upper part and the second part.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first upper part of the tab and the groove extend horizontally.
 16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the tab can be extracted from the groove by sliding the tab along the groove.
 17. The method according to claim 10, wherein an imaginary vertical plane is defined and situated at half the depth of the muffle and divides the muffle into a first area and a second area, the first area being closer to an oven door intended for introducing and removing food, and wherein the groove is fashioned in the first area.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the groove extends for more than 15 millimetres along a direction perpendicular to the oven door in the closed position.
 19. An oven for food, comprising: a muffle; a groove fashioned in a wall of the muffle; and a tab comprising: a first upper part inserted in the groove; a second part joining the tab with a cross member for supporting an electric heating element, the cross member being constrained to the tab and being underneath the electric heating element; and a third part, which extends from top to bottom between the first upper part and the second part, wherein the tab contributes to supporting the electric heating element and is inserted into the groove, along which the tab is free to slide so as to compensate for thermal expansions.
 20. The oven according to claim 19, wherein the first part of the tab and the groove extend horizontally, and wherein the tab can be extracted from the groove by sliding the tab along the groove. 